The mum of a young woman killed after her boyfriend crashed his car while high on cocaine has spoken of her shock as the truth about what happened was revealed for the first time.

Rose Jones, who has family in Southport and Bootle, revealed how she felt as the horrific details were read out at Exeter Crown Curt.

She heard how daughter Natalie Jones, aged 26, died when Richard Brettle lost control of his BMW on a bend in Devon and sped sideways into an oncoming car.

It was revealed in court that he was high on cocaine, and was 37 times over the drug driving limit when he crashed.

Brettle, of Northfield terrace, Ilfracombe, Devon, was jailed for 12 years over the collision, which killed Natalie and left the driver of the other car with life-changing injuries.

Exeter Crown Court heard the 31-year-old had messages on his phone arranging urgent meetings with dealers nicknamed Karma and Shorty as he drove from Ilfracombe to Barnstaple on the evening of August 21, 2015.

There was evidence his phone had been used to send messages shortly before the crash, though not at the moment he lost control and veered into the Toyota Yaris driven by Abigail Ashton.

Richard Brettle, 31, was jailed for 12 years for causing death by careless driving, driving while under the influence of drugs, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property

The smash killed Ms Jones almost immediately and left Ms Ashton needing a wheelchair.

Rose Jones said she had stuck by Richard Brettle since her daughter Natalie’s tragic death because, as a potential witness in his trial, she was unaware of the evidence of the involvement of drugs.

She said it was only today - when he changed his not guilty plea to admitting causing death by careless driving and it was revealed he was also a drug dealer - that she realised it was his recklessness that led to her daughter’s death.

Brettle had spent 18 months denying he was at fault for the crash that killed Natalie and left the driver of another vehicle with life changing injuries.

Rose, who had lost her husband the week before her daughter’s death, said she believed him as she was trying to come to terms with the double tragedy, adding: “I thought I was being a better person by giving him the benefit of the doubt - I wanted answers not blame.”

As she was being lined up to give evidence for the defence at Brettle’s trial the 53-year-old claimed she had not been told about the evidence that he was driving while under the influence of cocaine.

Rose said: “I knew nothing about the drugs, I only found out what was going on today.

“I was supposed to be a witness so the police could not tell me anything.

“When he pleaded guilty that was the first time I had any knowledge of what was going on.

“I did stick by him because I wanted to see what happened because as far as I was concerned he said he was innocent.

“I was unaware of the facts of the case until today - I’m glad he got what he got, now I feel I have got some justice for Natalie.”

Prosecutor Joss Ticehurst outlined how the 31-year-old was actually a drug dealer under the influence of a massive intake of cocaine as he drove through Devon to meet underworld associates on August 21, 2015.

Analysis of his mobile phone revealed he had also been sending messages to those dealers shortly before he lost control on a bend and veered into an oncoming car.

The horrific crash killed girlfriend Natalie, who was in the passenger seat, almost immediately and left the driver of the other vehicle reliant on a wheelchair.

Amid the wreckage police found his phone, a package of cocaine and a stash of cash - all of which pointed to his illicit activities.

Revealing her reaction Rose, who now lives in Devon but has family in Bootle and Southport, said: “I was gutted... I did support him but I wasn’t in possession of the facts.”

And the mum-of-four - who listened as defence barrister Richard Crabb told the court she had stood by Brettle, even visiting the scene of the crash with him last week - said that was no longer the case.

She said: “He is a scumbag. I believed him because I did not think he was capable of that.”

Recalling that trip to the crash site, between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, she said it was the first time Brettle had contacted her in months.

She said she thought it was “out of the goodness of his heart” but now believes it was “just an act” to be used in his favour in court.

Brettle was jailed for 12 years after admitting causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.